The Tool Desk
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Check the download queue and manage an active transfer
- Press the PS button to open Control Center.
- Select Downloads/Uploads and review the active and queued downloads or updates.
- Select an item to see the available controls. Pause and Resume are documented controls; the options shown can vary by item and software version.
If you want a particular item to proceed, you can pause another active transfer and check whether the desired item can be started or resumed. This may help manage what is active, but PlayStation’s troubleshooting guidance does not promise that doing so will reorder the queue or make a download faster. See PlayStation’s game-download troubleshooting steps.
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Check for a game or app update
Game and app updates use their own controls. On the home screen, highlight the game or app, press Options, select Check for Update, then follow the on-screen prompts. PlayStation also says that “When you start a game or app, it automatically updates to the newest version available.” Read PlayStation’s instructions for checking game and system software versions.
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For a game or app to download updates while the PS5 is in Rest Mode, the console must stay connected to the internet. In Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Automatic Updates, enable Auto-Download. You can separately enable Auto-Install in Rest Mode.
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These settings do different things: Auto-Download fetches updates, while Auto-Install allows them to install in Rest Mode. If you want to leave a suspended game open, enable Auto-Download without automatic installation so you can decide whether to install when you resume play. See PlayStation’s auto-download and update settings and its guide to power-saving and Rest Mode settings.
Manage system software updates separately
PS5 system software does not use the game or app update-check path. Open Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings to check for system software updates and manage its automatic download and installation settings. PlayStation’s PS5 system software update guide covers the console update process.
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Choose a game mode first when the game supports it
Some games offer Preferred Install, which can let you select a mode or feature—such as single-player or multiplayer—to install first. This is a game-specific install choice, not a control for moving one title ahead of another in the Downloads/Uploads queue. Support and available choices depend on the game; look for the option in that game’s store or install flow. Sony describes the feature in its PS5 FAQ.
Troubleshoot a download that will not start
- In Control Center, open Downloads/Uploads, select the stalled item, and choose Pause, then Resume.
- If it still will not start, select Cancel and Delete. Find the title in your Game Library and try downloading it again.
- Check PlayStation’s service status for an outage.
- Check free space at Settings > Storage. The Game Library product information shows the title’s minimum free-space requirement.
- Make sure the PS5 system software is current. If a system software download repeatedly fails, follow Sony’s official recovery instructions rather than using an unofficial update file.
PlayStation’s detailed download troubleshooting guide covers pause-and-resume and cancelling and retrying a game download.
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When a USB drive is relevant
A USB flash drive is for a narrow recovery case: installing PS5 system software from a file when the normal update process is failing. Sony’s manual procedure requires a FAT32- or exFAT-formatted drive, a PS5/UPDATE folder, and the official update file saved as PS5UPDATE.PUP. Connect the drive, start the console in Safe Mode, and select Update System Software > Update from USB Storage Device. Use only Sony’s official update file and follow its system software instructions. A USB drive does not speed up ordinary game downloads or change their queue order.
When added storage is relevant
An M.2 SSD can add storage capacity, but it does not prioritize downloads. If storage is the issue, check Sony’s current compatibility and installation requirements before choosing a drive in its M.2 SSD guide. PS5 games stored on USB extended storage must be copied back to console storage or an M.2 SSD to play.
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